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Updated: Tuesday, March 18, 2003 10:07 PM EST
NCAA BASKETBALL RECAP
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Nc Asheville 92, Texas Southern 84 (ot)
NC ASHEVILLE BULLDOGS
NC Asheville Bulldogs
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TEXAS SOUTHERN TIGERS
Texas Southern Tigers
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DAYTON, Ohio (Ticker) -- Texas Southern will have plenty of time to practice its free throws.

Andre Smith scored 10 of his 28 points in overtime to lead North Carolina Asheville to a 92-84 victory over Texas Southern in the NCAA Tournament play-in game.

The Tigers fell to 0-4 all time in the NCAA Tournament due to a nightmarish performance at the free-throw line, where they were just 14-of-31. They made only 3-of-7 free throws in the final three minutes of regulation as the Bulldogs took control.

Texas Southern (18-13) forced overtime when Lionel Willis, who scored 15 points, followed a miss by Allen Lovett with three seconds remaining. Smith missed a halfcourt shot at the buzzer but dominated overtime, giving NC Asheville the lead for good on a 3-pointer with just under five minutes remaining.

Smith buried 3-of-4 free throws around a layup by Joseph Barber for an 83-76 lead and had a layup and two free throws in the final minute as the Bulldogs (15-16) became the first team with a losing record to win an NCAA Tournament game.

Lovett, who transferred from NC-Asheville following the 2000-01 season, scored 17 of his 28 points in the first half against his former team. He made just 7-of-13 free throws and scored only one point in overtime.

Bryan McCullogh scored 15 points and Alex Kragel added 14 for the Bulldogs, who will face top-seeded Texas on Friday in a first-round game at Birmingham, Alabama.


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